Bubonik Funk returns to Wilmington this Saturday to play at The Whsikey. The band is an energetic mix of rock, soul and funk and keep growing as a popular act locally. Below is more Q&A with lead singer and keyboard player Dylan Ellett.

You can read the article on the band here and listen to their new album “Zabooki” here.

Where does BF fit in, in terms of jam bands or funk/rock bands in NC?

I don’t think we fit in any one camp of genres. Having the name “Bubonik Funk” leads people to believe that we are funk and nothing but, but that’s far from the case. We go through phases like any other band. Currently we are trying more funk-oriented sounds, and some soul and hip hop.

You guys have chemistry on and off stage.

We all grew up in the same schools and it’s been almost seven years since our band started. We are family and musical soul mates. You go through heaven and hell in a band like this but you do it together. We all have the same vision and the same goals that create a special bond. Before every show we huddle up and pray, and get a pep talk. Its like, “Alright boys, let’s affect these people in a positive way. Let’s inspire. I have your back, you have mine.” That creates chemistry.

What did time apart bring to the band in terms of making music or shaping the direction of BF?

The music for our last album “Zabooki” was written over two and a half years. On and off writing on Christmas break and such, so the album may be a little all over the place, but I think it’s a good representation of who we were and how we thought at that time.

Who has influenced you the most as a musician – a family member, a friend, an established m

I remember having a spiritual experience listening to The Doors alone in my room one night when I was fifteen. Jim Morrison and Frank Sinatra were two favorites. I crooned a little bit on “Queen Bee” because of my Sinatra influence. I come from a non-musical family. In fact, none of our families are overtly musical. We grew up moving through the Catholic School system, a private, college-preparatory high school. A lot of our friends and classmates are becoming doctors, businessmen, lawyers. We’ve got different plans though.

What themes do you find the most fruitful as a writer?

Everybody’s becoming a slave to their iPhone these days. Every other person is on a pill for something. I worry that we are losing track of the beautiful little moments in life. I think people need time to think, and instead we fill up our tiny bits of free time throughout the day with cell phone activity or whatever. I do it too. Somebody needs to slap me one day and tell me “the world is pretty great too you know.” Everybody could use a slap. It would be helpful, I think.

Talk about the vibe of everyone getting back together to record.

Everybody was optimistic. Any creative activity has that thrill because you’re literally creating something that only existed in your head. We started recording the album at a very exhausting pace. After five or six days as recluses, you start to get burnt out. It’s unavoidable. But everyone was consistently creative and optimistic.

What music gets the most airplay in the van on tour?

D’angelo, Funkadelic, Soulive, Led Zeppelin. I put my iPod on shuffle, which yields anything from show tunes to System of a Down.

There are some coy titles on “Zabooki.” Care to elaborate on “Baby Equipment” or “Mung Beans”?

Song titles, lyrics, themes, and concepts are all wild and we are reluctant to explain anything. If you don’t offer people the luxury of omniscience they will draw their own conclusions. We just want people to think what they want to think.

[…] together with a soulful, laid back sensibility, has rejuvenation written all over it. Lead singer Dylan Ellett has a casual singing style, like a hip lounge lizard capable of a sucker punch. Catchy and fun, the […]

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The WAE: Wilmington-area Arts & Entertainment is dedicated to experiencing, discussing and promoting the arts in Southeastern N.C. From theater and all manner of music to visual art, dance, festivals and more, The WAE is populated by people who are immersed in local A&E. If it’s about A&E in Southeastern N.C., then we’re all about it.